Car-coupling



(No Model.)

R. T. BISHOP.

GAR GOUPLING. No.`267,664. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

IWI

. UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

RIOHARD fr. BISHOP, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

vSPEGIFI.CACLION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,664, dated November 21, 1882.'

Y Application tiled September 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD T. BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented certain Improvements in ICar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my improvements are to couple cars automatically, avoid the necessity on part of the operator to step between the cars to couple or uncouple the same, also to enable the operator to effect the coupling and.

uncoupling from either side of the car, or 0n the ground, as well as from the top of the car, and otherwise to provide a coupling or device applicable to high `or low cars, freight or passenger cars, which is cheap to make, cnn be readily applied, is reliable and safe in operation and use. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents draw-heads of adjoining cars having my improvements applied thereto, the ligure Showing both a side and sectional elevation of the coupling parts, which further are represented in position ready for the link to enter the draw-head preparatory to being coupled.` Fig. 2 shows the same parts, but in the positions they assume when the link, entering the draw-head, has thrown the tumbler back, and preparatory to said link striking against the eccentric lever and actuating same to restore the coupling tooriginalposition, with the link locked or coupled. Fig. Sis atop plan of the parts when coupled. Fig. et represents respectively in perspective the tumbler 7 and eccentric lever. Fig. 5 represents my improvements as applied to a draw-head and operating from the under side thereof, instead of from the top, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3. Fig.

5 is therefore a modification of my invention.

Similar letters refer to Similar parts throughout the several views. l

The draw-head A is adapted to receive a drop-catch or tumbler, B, and eccentric lever C, and accommodate their movements together with that of the link. Hence the mouth of the draw-head has the upper and lower flaring sides, a a', to permit and guide the link to properly enteror be withdrawn from the drawhead. The upper side of the drawhead is mortised or slotted, (see a2, Figs. 1, 2, 3,)

B, the tumbler, is made to have the lower horn, b, the upper horn, b', t-he open Slot b2, and otherwise is constructed as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, 5. It is the lower horn, b, that constitutes the catch or locking device to retain the link in the draw-head. By its upper arm, b',

and slot b2 the tumbler is made to engage the pin in the forward arms of the eccentric lever, as shown, so that the tumbler can from its original position (see Fig. l) be thrust back to the position shown in Fig. 2, and in so doing4 bring the eccentric lever from its position in Fig. l to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. The tumbler m ust therefore be partially turned, or its lower horn thrust back,in either attempts to couple or uncouple the link. (See Fig. 2.)

The eccentric lever G in its entirety has the constructive features, viz., the long arm C', the short arm c, the forward arms c' c2, which have the small horns at c3 and. the mortise o4, said parts being-shaped as shown in Figs.l, 2, 3, 4. By the long arm C the eccentric lever connects to the shackle D, the upper arm, E, pendent lever F, or the parts that enable the operator to couple or uncouple. It is against the short or lower arm, c, that the entering link strikes (see Fig. 2) to cause the eccentric lever@` to quickly restore the tumbler to original position or to effect the locking of the link within the draw-head. The forward arms, c c2, carry a Stationary pin, c5, which tits in the slot of the tumbler. (See Figs. l, 2, 4, 5.) Hence the eccentric lever C, when completely lifted by the operator, can raise the tumbler to make clearance for the withdrawal or uncoupling of 9 the link; but when said lever is fully depressed the travel of its pin in the tumbler causes the same to decisively return and couple the linkthat is, the lower horn of the tumbler is brought back against the bearing of the drawhead and prevents the link from uncoupling. lThe small horns c3 belonging to the lever C perform the function of bearing upon the top of the entered link, (see Fig. 5,) and when the said lever is elevated or depressed the end of the link can l likewise be elevated or depressed. (See Fig. 5.)

The tumbler B is placed in the mortise c4 of the eccentric lever 0, and both said devices are simultaneously inserted in the draw-head and pivoted respectively at x as shown.

To the end of the long arm C', I pivot one end of the shackle D, and the other end of this is pivoted tothe upper arm, E, this latter, however, being rigidly secured to a transverse shaft, e, turning in proper bearings attached to the car, as indicated.

The pendent lever F with counterbalancef restores automatically the coupling parts to original position.

It is apparent that by connecting a rod at g and extending the rod within reach of the operator the coupling can be operated from the top ofthe car.

The parts thus constructed and arranged, the complete voperation is as follows: The tumbler B being iu the position represented in Fig. 1,the link H of the adjoining car is shoved into the draw-head. (See Fig. l.) As the link enters it lirst strikes against the lower horn of the tumbler, thereby thrusting it back into the mortise of the eccentric lever G out of the way i oftheenteringlink. (SeeFig.2.) Thelink,next

striking against the lower arm ofthe eccentric lever G, turns this to lift the pendent lever F, and depresses at same time the tumbler to drop down and couple thelink. This done the counter-balance causes the eccentric lever and its parts to instantly resume their first position. To uncouple the car it is only necessary to raise the eccentric lever, which lifts the tuinbler to clear the way for the withdrawal of the link, and as soon as the counter-balance is released the parts drop to original position, ready for couplingthe next car. The coupling is entirely automatic, the link being regulated to the required height by a slight movement of the pendent lever at the side of the car, or by the rod extending to its top. Upon coming together the, cars are instantly fixed, and ca-n only be uucoupled by moving the pendent lever to its full extent. 'Ihe mechanism is simple and strong, and may be readily applied to the same draw-bar heads as those now generally in use, and the links to be used for coupling are exactly the same as those now used. A shield can be provided to cover the mortised draw-head and its parts, or the top ofthe drawhead can be entirely closed and the working mechanism made'to project below the drawhead. What I claim isl- 1. The combination, with the tumbler B, having the lowerfhorn, b, upper horn, b', and slot b2, pivoted in a draw-head, of the eccentric lever C, having long arm C', short arm c, forward arms, c c2, and piu c5, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the link I-I, of the eccentric lever C, having arms c c2, provided with small horn c3, said lever being pivotedin a draw-head, by means whereof the end ot' the link can be elevated or depressed, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The tumbler B, having lower horn, b, upper horn, b', slot b2, the eccentric leverC, having long arm C', short arm '0, forward arms, c' c2, with horns at c3, and pin c5, said parts arranged within a draw-head provided with a mortise, a2, bevel faces at a3, and made concave at c, the shackle D, upper arm, E, transverse shaft, and pendent lever, all combined to operate in the manner and for the purposes set forth. 4

In testimony of said invention I 4have hereunto set my hand.

RICHARD THOS. B ISH() P.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. HERTHEL, JAMES T. WA'rsoN. 

